"This clear address was needed, for example, at the time of the affair surrounding Mesut Ozil and İlkay Gundogan sharing a photo with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Lahm continued.

"Ozil (and initially also Gundogan) felt no need to speak out and explain themselves in public. This necessity should have been communicated quickly and clearly in order to improve the harmony portrayed to the outside - and to the inside."